2023: why issue-based campaigns should be encouraged

As Nigerians enter the election season for next year's general election, it is becoming increasingly clear that the polls would be both fiercely competitive and frenetic. But there have been growing concerns about how to ensure campaigns are issue-based at all levels.

The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, hinted at the need to frame all candidates to center their competition for votes on issues only, without insults, assassinations or the use of trigger words. which could stir up passions. Writing in response to President Muhammadu Buhari's congratulatory message shortly after his emergence as the party's standard bearer, Tinubu assured that he would work with other presidential candidates to agree on an election campaign based on problems. In the letter titled "Deep Appreciation," the APC presidential candidate said, "I have taken note of the message you sent to all presidential candidates during your Democracy Day speech at the nation on June 12, 2022. “Our country is going through a very sensitive time and no one should put their personal desires above and beyond the peace and prosperity of the nation. As you said, the "message we defined at the top will be reproduced in our followers". “At this point, I will take this opportunity to assure Your Excellency of my commitment to issue-based campaigning as we enter the general elections. I will personally engage candidates from other political parties to urge them to do the same. "Voters should elect us on the basis of our policies, programs and projects. By the grace of God, we as candidates will avoid having divisive, destructive and disruptive campaigns. However, despite the melodious sentiments expressed in his letter of appreciation to the President, Tinubu's choice as the running mate of Senator Kashim Shettima, sparked a mixture of national outrage and praise, even as the religious affiliation of the two has vomited sentimental rifts. Nigerians who recalled Tinubu's assurances that he would "hire candidates from other political parties to secure campaigning 'problem-oriented' questioned whether he had engaged with the men of his party and was capable of organizing national conversations focused on patriotism and development. Stakeholders who spoke to The Guardian expressed their belief that issues are set to dominate the 2023 election campaigns. They added that security, cost of living, access to education and rural integration are highly topical, saying Nigerians were eager to hear how each candidate intended to meet the challenges. They also implored the assurance of a level playing field by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). For example, the Chief Executive of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, asserted, “Issue-based political campaigning is not only possible, but a sine qua non of any campaign in a liberal democracy. After the tones and cries of violation of the rotation convention by our great brother political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and violation of the balance of faith by my great party, the Congress of All Progressives ( PCA); naturally, the next phase is the content and context of the issues that each political party will bring to the table. “The examination and canvassing of key issues will be at the forefront and indeed is the ageless tradition of issue-based election campaigning. To be exact, the issue-based campaign will intentionally encompass all 18 registered political parties on the ring now, before and during the 2023 general election.” On how to enforce issue-based campaigns, Okechukwu reiterated that it is mandatory for political parties to stand for issue-based votes, adding: "therefore, it is not a question of insisting. "Political parties, whatever their age, their wealth, the diffusion of their tentacles or their structures and the extent of their international influence, must vigorously spreading their message through a multimedia approach,” he noted. On whether it is possible for the APC presidential candidate to convene a meeting of other cand idats for the presidency to agree on issue-based campaigns, Okechukwu said, “What for? The Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that I know does not need to call a meeting. It is also not believed that neither Atiku Abubakar nor Peter Obi will call a meeting. On the contrary, what is expected of each of them is to excel in adhering to their manifestos. But the executive director of the Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA), Emmanuel Onwubiko, noted that Tinubu's preference for a Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket prevents him from promoting an issue-based campaign. "No. It's practically impossible because the APC candidate is very divisive and disloyal to the most...